Prompt #15: Elliot and Olivia are two strangers who meet at a party and get caught under the mistletoe

Caught under Mistletoe

~oOo~

Olivia Benson and Amanda Rollins were singing karaoke to "All I want for Christmas are you" and the rest of the people at the party were cheering and singing along, being merry at a Christmas party for NYPD recruits. They were all having a cheerful and lively time when the women hopped off the stage after their number.

They down some celebratory shots of tequila before Amanda decided to head for the bathroom. Olivia let her eyes cast through the room, looking around the party in full swing.

Yes, this was the fun she needed after her recent breakup from the law professor whom she thought was the love of her life. It didn't help mend her broken heart to see countless other couples kissing under the mistletoe. Seeing them so happy when she wasn't is why she grabbed her coat and got out for some fresh air.

~oOo~

Elliot Stabler was standing outside the NYPD Recruits Christmas party, smoking, as he was waiting on his friend Fin to arrive and enter the party with him. Elliot has been feeling bah humbug this week after a not-so-graceful break-up, hoping that a smoke, some drinks, and a party would help ease his pain.

He asked Kathy to marry him, but she said no. She rejected him. Now he is smothering his sorrows in smoke and liquor.

Taking another drag of his cigarette, the smoke got stuck in his throat and his breath was taking from him by the force of a woman tumbling into him. He slipped and fell and she came down on top of him.

Their eyes interlocked, their noses were close to touching, and the world stood still for a second. Tightening his hold on the woman on top of him, he took her in. Molten brown eyes, long velvet hair grazing his cheek, and a body that fit just right against his. They were lost in a moment.

That was until they were interrupted by a unison cough. They looked up to see their friends Amanda and Fin standing above them, heads tilted, wondering what was going on.

"What did we miss?" Amanda asked her friend with a smirk.

Olivia stood up and straightened herself while Elliot stayed frozen on the ground until Fin helped him up to his feet.

"This fool was in my way," Olivia hissed.

"Fool? In your way. You are the one who ran into me, lady," Elliot hissed back.

"Well, if you weren't standing in the middle of a doorway, it wouldn't have happened," Olivia responded in an aggravating tone. Who does this guy think he is?

In the same way, Elliot was wondering who this stubborn but stunning woman was and how she got to be so bullheaded. Elliot shook his head in bewilderment.

His reaction aggravated Olivia even more. "Listen, bud; whatever you are wondering about me, you can forget it. Come on, Amanda, I need another shot."

"Lead the way." Then she turned towards the guys. "So long, boys."

Fin and Elliot were left in dismay at what just happened. Fin easily brushed it off and made his way into the bar but Elliot stopped him.

"We are not going in there. Not after what just happened."

Fin shook his head, telling his friend, "Don't let this ruin your day. Come on, I will buy you a shot or two. It looks like you need it."

Elliot couldn't say no to Fin paying, so he followed his friend into the bar. And to be honest, he was also a bit curious about the girl that stumbled onto his path.

~oOo~

Olivia ordered two more shots of tequila as Amanda gave her a piercing look.

"So, are you going tell me what happened back there?"

Olivia downed the tequila and simply said, "Nope." Amanda shook her head and Olivia asked," What? Nothing happened."

"What happened back there, Liv, that wasn't nothing."

"Believe what you want, Amanda."

"Admit it. You are smitten! With that guy! You can't deny tension. There was something more between the two of you. Not like what you had with—"

"Don't you dare mention his name, Amanda. I am here to forget about him."

"Maybe you already have." Her friend winked at her.

Letting her eyes wander through the bar, Olivia's eyes locked on Elliot's who was eyeing her from a distance. He raised his shot glass in a salute and emptied it, never losing eye contact with her.

Fin took in his friend, staring at the woman who ran into him as if she were the Mona Lisa.

"That lady sure did a number on you. Elliot, my friend I haven't seen you act like since—"

"Don't mention her name. I'd rather drink and be merry than think about her."

Knowing when to better leave his friend alone, Fin pushed away from the bar and went off to mingle by himself.

Elliot snapped back another shot of tequila, not able to keep his eyes off the auburn-eyed woman who landed on his lap. He couldn't look away, no matter how many tequila shots he took.

~oOo~

"This guy has no impulse control. He can't take his eyes off me. Why?"

"Can you blame him, Liv? You look like auburn allure."

"Auburn allure?" Liv laughed. "I never heard that before."

"Listen, Liv. I'm saying this because I care. Don't let that ass of a professor ruin your next chance at love."

Before Oliva could reply, Fin walked over to them.

"Sorry for my friend back there. He is going through a lot."

Amanda waved him off and asked him to dance. Pulling him out of Liv's earshot, she shared his newest idea with him.

"Looks like we are going to be playing Christmas Cupid for our friends. What do you say?"

Despite not one to interfere in his friends' lives, Fin was intrigued. "What do you have planned?"

Looking up at the mistletoe hanging from the ceiling, Amanda came up with the perfect plan.

They split up and mumbled excuses to their friends, finding reasons to drag them under the mistletoe vine.

When Amanda gave Fin a wink as a signal, they both pushed Elliot and Olivia into the middle of the open dancefloor. They both looked up in bewilderment, finding themselves caught under the mistletoe.

As they moved their heads down again, Elliot and Olivia gazed into each other's eyes. Something sparked as the magic of the mistletoe had Elliot and Olivia under its spell.

Elliot noticed that a streak of Olivia's golden-brown hair had fallen across her face, hiding the beauty of her sad eyes. He moved it back, tugging it behind her ear, his fingers grazing her cheek along the way.

Olivia felt a tingle at the back of her ear; the warmth of his touch at the back of her neck.

These two strangers sure felt the spark ignite within them as they were caught under the mistletoe.

The magnetic pull of their lips interlocked them in the woven thread of desire that they both felt.

For this kiss under mistletoe wasn't going to be their last.